new guy

[mikieg]

hello, my name is mikie g and i have a boat problem. i grew up on lake michigan. could have walked past a row of sail boats and never noticed anything. 10 years ago my friend took me out on his sunfish. i realized the beauty of sails. for 10 years i have lurked about trying to read and learn. i realized that those ten years are gone and i need to get going. at the end of summer i bought a w.d.schock santana 525. this boat is for learning. i have no plans of racing. my goal is to liveaboard and cruise. over the next four years i plan on some asa clases and lots of sailing practice. i am particularly interested in heavy weather tactics. when my youngest goes on to college, i plan to have the huge yardsale. everything must go, even the wife! i am thinking of some potential second boats. some include the santana 35, schock 35, catalina 27 or 30. this list may change as i learn more in the future. i look forward to my education. please be patient, i will get this.

[smackdaddy]

Hey mikie - welcome to SN dude. It's a fun place.

Here's a great thread on heavy weather sailing...

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/seaman...r-sailing.html

[erps]

when my youngest goes on to college, i plan to have the huge yardsale. everything must go, even the wife!

Boating is too important to wait for the kids to go to college. Dump them now. They will probably turn out okay and they'll forgive you when they can fly down and visit you on your boat in the tropics.